[StBernard] Looting Arrests

[Westley Annis]

Looting Arrests 

November 13, 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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Sheriff's officials say they have arrested about 50 people in some 20 cases
of looting property since Hurricane Katrina, acknowledging some people
allowed into St. Bernard Parish to work also take advantage of it to commit
burglaries and thefts.

Maj. John Doran, chief of detectives for the Sheriff's Office, said the
department has made numerous arrests and detectives are assigned to
"specifically go into neighborhoods looking for looters.''

Several hundred thousand dollars worth of stolen property and cash has been
recovered and some narcotics has been seized, he said.

"We have been vigilant,'' Doran said. And if someone sees something they
believe looks suspicious they should call the Sheriff's Office at
504-208-0820, he said.

But he said it is difficult to keep track of all the people working at
gutting homes and businesses. "With so many construction crews it's hard to
check all people,'' Doran said.While those people live outside St. Bernard,
parish residents are also being arrested for looting, Doran said.

He estimated there have been about 50 reports of burglary or theft in St. 
Bernard since the storm.

In October, about $100,000 in stolen property was recovered in one operation
in which six people were arrested.

Since Thursday, Nov. 10, six men have been arrested in two incidents
involving alleged stolen property and narcotics, Doran said. In one case,
about $12,000 in cash that may have been stolen was found, along with a
boat, a diesel tank and 36 narcotic pills and more tan two ounces of
marijuana, he said.

On Friday, Det. Steve Guilliot stopped a man in Arabi who had muddied cash
and jewelry that appeared taken from a flood-ravaged home, Doan said.

Jared Lapeyrouse, 20, 2028 Judy Drive, Meraux, was booked with one count of
looting and possession of stolen property, Doran said.

Further investigation showed the man was staying in a trailer on Hannan
Boulevard with two other men, said Doran.

A check of the trailer and surrounding area turned up $12,000 cash, several
guns, marijana and narcotic pills of Xanax and Lorcet, as well as a boat
believed stolen, two four-wheel all-terrain vehicles, a 500-gallon diesel
tank and jewelry, Doran said.

Wayne DeBouchel, 49, and his son, Kevin DeBouchel, 26, both living in the
2000 block of Hannan Boulevard, were booked with possession of stolen
property and possession with intent to distribute the drugs.
.
On Thursday, three men were arrested on looting counts by by Det. Mark
Jackson.

Steve Evans, 44, 2624 Farmsite Road, was allegedly stashing items in an
abandoned house nearby, Doran said..

Also arrested were George Morgan, 38, 3901 Hopedale Highway, and Brad
\Assevedo, 21, 5722 Hopedale Highway, Doran said.

Recovered were tools believed stolen, a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle and a
bag of change, Doran said.